McSwain Dazzles, Bats Bash Leafs as Robins Roll in Game One
By Chase Murphy | Summer Intern (and Unapologetic Homer) | The Robesonian
RED SPRINGS — Look, I try to keep it professional. But when your hometown boys absolutely hammer a playoff opponent in front of 5,000+ standing-room-only fans on a Friday night, objectivity goes out the window.
Red Springs 11, Smithfield-Selma 0.
Statement made.
Dan McSwain? Unhittable. The ace righty didn’t just pitch, he dealt — 7 innings, 9 Ks, no walks, and the Leafs looked like they were swinging blindfolded at his curve. And the Robins offense? Ruthless.
Justin Stubbs hit a moonshot.
Steve Bowser followed suit.
Danny Abell racked up four hits like it was tee-ball. Even the pinch-runners scored.
Let’s just say this: if Smithfield-Selma thought they were going to sneak into Robbins Stadium and steal one from the No. 1 seed, they were sorely mistaken.
“It felt electric tonight,” McSwain said postgame, ice on his arm, smile on his face. “We'll kick back and enjoy this win — then come right back at 'em tomorrow.”
Game Two is Saturday night, same place. Same crowd? Probably. Same result? We’ll see — but the Leafs better bring more than six singles and a prayer.
Robins lead the best-of-five, 1-0.
And from the look of it, they don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.
Quick Stats:
Red Springs Red Robins (W):
Dan McSwain – 7.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 9 K, 0 BB
J. Stubbs – 2-for-4, HR, 4 RBI
S. Bowser – 2-for-5, HR, 3 RBI
D. Abell – 4-for-5, 3B, 3 RBI
C. Wreede – 2-for-2, RBI, 2 BB, 2 R
B. Browning – 2-for-4, 2B, R
Smithfield-Selma Leafs (L):
B. Pinnell – 2-for-4
R. Diego, C. Savine, E. Kimball, M. Mowery – 1 hit each
T. Carlson – 0-for-4, 3 K
Team left 5 on base, struck out 11 times
Tobacco State League Scoreboard | Quarterfinals | Aug. 1, 2025
Sanford 5, Clinton 2 - Sanford leads 1-0
Lumberton 4, Warsaw 1 - Lumberton leads 1-0
Angier-Fuquay Springs 1, Whiteville 0 - Angier-FS leads 1-0
NOTES: Angier-Fuquay Springs is the No. 10 seed, and Whiteville is the No. 2 ... The Bulls scored their lone run in the fifth, an RBI double from
Steven Palmer ...
Josh Poole pitched eight innings of four-hit shutout ball for the win...